CB radios were popular in the 1970’s and 1980’s, and they were an ongoing prop in The Dukes of Hazzard, as seen here with Daisy Duke on her ’74 Plymouth Roadrunner. The use of CB’s in the show would have ya’ll believe that CB reception was usually crystal clear, and the channels were always wide open and ready for your uninterrupted conversation. But these short-range radios were not completely reliable. Static, interference, crowded channels, and garden-variety idiots were part of the package.
Even before the Internet, trolls were a thing. Random nutjobs would silently stalk a channel, and the minute you and your road trip buddies wanted to pick a restaurant, the fool would suddenly pipe up and clog the channel with their jabbering. Sure, you could change the channel, but the troll could spin the dial and find your conversation again.
On the other hand, CB’s were a lifeline for truckers, farmers, tradesmen, first responders, etc. You could holler out to the airwaves and ask about weather conditions, speed traps, and gas station locations. You could warn other motorists about accidents. Stranded travelers could call for help, and most of the time, get an answer from a decent human being. It was a different world. And for all of their shortcomings, CB’s are still cool, and always will be. H/T>
